More Recent Goings-on

So here's some more random pictures from the end of April and beginning of May.

What a great face.  Painted with strawberries of course.

We had one last opportunity to go to the Zoo before our pass expired, but we forgot our camera and only had my husband's phone.  We have enough zoo pictures to last us decades, so I'm not too worried, however on this trip the highlight wasn't a permanent resident.

They're so fuzzy I'm going to die!

As a second part of my 3 yr olds birthday celebration, we went to a place called The Discovery Center.

Most of the scientific exhibits were over the children's heads, but many were still fun and interactive.

Of course the giant bubbles were a big hit,

And they even tried out the bed of nails.

A mini shopping center was fun, but we ran out of time to really enjoy it.

Seriously, it's a cool place to visit, but only if you get awesome coupons.  Otherwise it's pretty expensive.  Especially for kids that are a little too young to appreciate it.

After that, we visited my Brother and Sister-in-Law to see their new chicks.

They already have a couple good layers, and my four year old had fun gathering the eggs.

He's really not as mad as he looks, just looking intensely at the cool flower.

The baby thought the chickens were slightly amusing.

Their resident squirrel.

I think my son was trying to lure him out with chicken feed.

After the Chickens, we took them to the play place again, where the baby got to hone his climbing skills.  Thank goodness we don't have any stairs anymore!

Another night that week, we had these shish-kabobs, and since I'm always taking pictures of beautiful food, I thought I'd share.

This was our first experience with a real coconut.  My three year old begged me to buy it at the store, so out of curiosity I did.

 In case you were wondering; Coconut Water: Not Sweet.

Still, if you were on a deserted island surrounded by nothing but salty sea water, it would be pure ambrosia I'm sure.  I put it in a smoothie, and it wasn't too bad.  As for the rest of the coconut... well at least the kids got to see what was inside.  We didn't find it very edible.  Oh well, here's to new experiences!

An Evening Out

One Sunday Evening in the end of April, we decided to go out exploring to see what we could find.

We found fields full of giant round rocks.

I think they're lava bombs --evidence of the region's volcanic history.

There were also cows.

Lots of cows.

Even an Oreo cow. :)

 Then we stopped at a bridge that crosses the Snake River.

Swallows are amazing. If I were to be a bird, I would be a swallow. They look like they have so much fun flying.

This bridge was more picturesque,

However, I have a sneaking suspicion it is no longer in use.

Someone had a nice set-up across the way.

What is it with me and creepy old places?  I think it's an old pump house or something.

Someone call a plumber.

My boys.

No wonder they call him "Sparkles."

What a lovely outing.

Not-so-recent goings-on.

This is a little out of date, since this mostly just recaps April, but to document our last few months in Idaho I thought I'd share a few photos.

As it started getting warmer, we couldn't help but get out and play.

We went to the tennis courts one night as a family.

The baby was pretty entertained at our sorry attempts at tennis at least.

A couple good storms washed the neighborhood clean -- one that came and went so fast, the sun began shining again before the rivers of water (--that had once been our road) receded.  I didn't have the camera, but rest assured that my four year old and I had a fun time splashing and wading through the calf-deep puddles.  There were even ducks swimming in the intersection of our street! I think I got a quick pic on my phone, but I have no way of transferring the image that I know of.
Here's a rainbow from one of those storms.  It was actually a full double rainbow.

We also had some friends over in a babysitting swap, and the kids had a lot of fun playing some version of tag that includes a ball.  It's a pretty good way to wear them out.

My 2nd child turned three years old in April. He got to do everything he wanted for his birthday.

We opened presents in the morning before daddy went to work,

Then, the highlight of the day...

Just look at those baby blues.  How could anyone say no to a face like that?

we rode the bus to the Carl's Jr. play-place.  (Riding the bus was the highlight).

We unsuccessfully looked at a nearby store for some galoshes, but he was appeased by being allowed a quarter for the candy machines.

Then we rode the bus home for naps,

The people on the bus gushed over the cuteness of my kids, and one passenger even asked if she could give them a ball.  (Note: balls are not good toys on a bus, since they will most likely have to be retrieved at least twice from various parts of the bus, and even from the gutter outside the folding door by other poor unsuspecting passengers). The baby nearly fell asleep on the way.

That night we celebrated with cake.

In case you can't tell, he's licking his lips in anticipation. The kids just started doing that recently, funny huh.

The kids have been bringing me bouquets of dandelions, but when they all turned into the white fuzzy globes, it didn't slow them down.  Rather the bouquets just took on a more interactive appeal.

 What a lucky mom I am.

Q & A

So it's that time of year again.

We're moving.

This picture was taken exactly a year ago today.

Nine days from now, we'll be on the road.

This will be move number 13 in our 6 years of marriage, and you'd think we'd be professionals at it, but no, we're a mess.

For those of you who don't know already, I'll answer the questions I can tell you're just dying to ask...

Q. Why do you move so much?

A. Well, since we've been married, my husband has pretty much been a student, and although he's been able to work on campus while going to school, during the Summer there's hardly any jobs that would support a family of five; so we have a "summer job" in WY that we go back to because it's just that good. Okay, actually because they pay well (like 1/2 our yearly income in 3 months), they provide free housing (although cozy at best), and the bosses are awesome and totally love my husband and are extremely flexible.  It's also an amazingly beautiful place.  So why not?

Okay, go ahead and ask it.  I know it's coming...

Q. What do you do there?

A. It's for the government. Top secret.   Okay, just kidding --except for the government part.  As much as I'd like to say that we do something cool like river guide, or rock climb, or chase grizzlies, we actually just spray weeds for the county.  I could say that my husband does pest control, but it's so much more!  We are helping the environment stay pristine and beautiful, eradicating invasive and non-native species of noxious weeds that are threatening to damage the natural balance of the ecosystem, hurting animals and people alike!!  Yeah, pretty much saving the world.   I say we because I worked there for a summer too right after we were married, before kids, and I still help identify the really noxious ones while I'm out and about, for a bounty of sorts. The really noxious and invasive ones are worth money, from $25 to $200 --but only for employees so don't go getting any ideas.  So yeah, that adds to the main rea$on we keep going back, the rest are just perks.

I don't mind the moving so much... okay so it's getting old, and to be honest, I'm a little sad to go because we've made so many friends this time around.  (I guess being served --like when we first moved here and I was in the hospital, and serving other people will do that to a person. What a blessing our Church has been --not to mention family that lives nearby.)

We will actually be back here again in the Fall, and maybe we can find a place to rent near friends or family.

Hopefully.

At least for a couple semesters anyway, until we move again...

Sheesh, I feel like such a transient.

Last question...

Q. How long will you keep this up?

A.  I don't exactly know.  I think we started saying "This is the last year we go to WY," like three years ago, so I'm afraid to answer that one.  Maybe next year, or perhaps once we get into a PhD program we'll settle down, but no promises.

Anyway, feel free to ask any other questions. I'd be happy to answer.  :)